If I could give this place 0 stars believe me I would. I am Cuban and visiting Minneapolis for the first time. Whenever I am in a new city, I look for the Cuban restaurants. I thought I’d give this place a try. What a mistake! Don’t believe the favorable reviews. The place is dark and dingy. It is self-serve and the food is awful. It is not real Cuban food. I don’t know what it is. I tried the ropa vieja and the stuffed potatoes and croquettes. All three were bland and unrecognizable. You have been warned. Stay away.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dakota Strege
Great place overall. I'll be keeping this place in my weekly rotation of best places.
Only complaints are:
1: Inconsistently cooked food. About 25% of the time, the food is under cooked.
2: It can get busy enough, that there isn't a place to sit after you order.
3: When you go during the slower times, we had to wait at the counter for up to 5 minutes before anyone notices us sis m standing there.
With this said, when everything goes correctly, it's one of the best places to eat in the state! The food is complex and draws you in with every bite. The staff is very pleasant to talk to and the restaurant it's self is warm and inviting. Plus, outdoor seating during the warmer times is a great way to have a nice dinner.
Dietary restrictions: They have oat milk for coffee
Kid-friendliness: Not aimed at kids. But, has some options for good eaters.
Wheelchair accessibility: Flat ground without stairs. No automatic doors. A little tight for navigating.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
LILIANA ORTIZ SAAVEDRA
What a delicious coffee with milk they prepare here, their dishes are delicious
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Rob Nord
Nice spot with really tasty food. It’s more pricey than I thought it would be but worth it. Very casual. Grab a menu from the bin and place your order at the counter, then seat yourself.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Ceviche De Pargo
Sarah Olson
not handicapped friendly..had reservation..no reservations place...very limited menu...there at noon on a weekend..most people eating breakfast...
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Andy Murphy
I'd never tried Cuban food prior to Guava, and I have now been 6 times in 3 months. EVERYTHING on the menu is amazing, tasty, and fast. It's a great place for lunch, and even better for dinner!
Daniela Avendaño
The restaurant has identity problems, it is not authentically Cuban, I think they gave it the name to Latinize it but it is neither from here nor there. The first time I went the food was ok but the service was terrible, it took a long time and the second time the bread with suckling pig had a Venezuelan dressing not Cuban and the chips they gave me were the ones they send you to throw away when you work in the kitchen, black , full of oil and old. Very disappointed, needless to say I'm not coming again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
chr val
I ordered the food with doordash. I had ordered from this place before and I have visited the place many times. The food wasn't bad, but what I received today's was a disgrace. Disgusting! I'm not sure if they ran out of plates, bows, or a better package system than a cardboard box. Unacceptable. To add that, I was missing multiple items that you are supposed to get and extra that I paid for. The food quality was very low, and the fact that it was compacted almost mixed like a tossed salad made everything mushy. Disgusting. Never again.
Food: 1
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Bowl
Paula Meidam
My only regret is not eating at Guava’s Cuban Cafe sooner. This place is fantastic - food, service, atmosphere…all of it is near perfect. The prices seem a bit modest in my experience (17rs in hospitality industry). Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vaca Frita Hash
Whit L
I don’t like leaving bad reviews, but I tried calling the restaurant multiple times and it goes straight to a full voicemail. I am Cuban, so I was hoping for something at least halfway decent, but my expectations are lowered since we are in Minnesota after all.
I’m highly disappointed in the Cuban sandwich that is half the size of a normal one, that says it uses Cuban bread (but it isn’t), and costs twice as much as a sandwich should cost (it was a whopping $16 and very small and soggy). It wasn’t even pressed, cut, and tasted awful.
The tostones were inedible. They were thin and dry and you couldn’t even bite into them. I didn’t know there was a way to mess up tostones, but they’re as tough as cardboard. I’m disappointed I spent so much money on low quality food. Please improve the quality of your food if you’re going to charge people that much money.
I’m editing the below review to include an updated experience I had with this restaurant. I wanted to give them another chance and I ordered take out. Well they got my order completely wrong and I got the wrong sandwich. I went up there and complained again. This time the customer service was excellent. The girl apologized and said next time I was up there to let her know and she would remake the food. The next day I went up there and had it remade. I was going yo come back and pick it up but I fell asleep. The person who ordered with me went to pick up her incorrect order and the lady told her that I never came back and got my sandwich. She gave it to my friend who put it in my fridge for me. Because of the excellent customer service and good food I’m changing the review to 4 stars. I really appreciate the lady going above and beyond when I got the wrong order.
If I could leave a 0 I would. On Father's day we went to eat here. I called to check on closing time and was informed they closed at 9 but the kitchen closed in 45 minutes. I placed an order for three people for the same meal. When we got there 15 minutes later. We arrived there was TWO meals made not the three ordered and despite it being 30 minutes before they actually closed I was told the grill was closed and they couldn't make a dessert either. They did absolutely nothing and didn't care even though it was their mistake. I had eaten here a few times before but this will be the last time ever I will set foot in this establishment. The service was the rudest I have experienced in the restaurant industry in about 15 years. I sat there and let my mom and fiance eat while I watched thanks to their screw-up and refusal to fix it. I hate giving g such a low review to a neighborhood restaurant but it was a terrible experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Kampa
We were looking for a quaint brunch place in the cities to celebrate our son and came across Guava’s Cuban Cafe.
We arrived to find plenty of street parking which was very nice! We had made a reservation for 11:30 on Sunday. When we arrived it took a bit to get someone to help us and when we said we had a reservation it still took about 10 minutes for someone to say we could sit wherever we wanted.
The cafe is cute and tastefully decorated. There were lots of people in and out while we were there and in general everything seemed efficient. We ended up at a table fairly close to the kitchen and it was slightly loud but we were still able to carry on conversation.
You grab menus to look at and then order at the counter. There was quite a variety of dishes to choose from and we were able to choose breakfast or lunch since we were there at 11:30.
We ordered a variety of dishes starting with Cafe Con Leche, a Tres Leches Latte and a Cortadito. We all LOVED our drinks. They were perfectly balanced and delicious.
We all ended up ordering lunch. Our dishes included Pan Con Fish with yuca fries, Pan Con Churrasco with greens, Ropa Viejo, and Lechon Asado. Each dish came out looking and smelling wonderful.
I loved the bread used for the sandwich— I could eat it every day! I also loved the cilantro aioli that came with my fries and I ended up adding it to my fish sandwich. The fish itself was a bit greasy but still tender and if it wasn’t for the menu I wouldn’t have known it was crusted in plantains, but it was still tasty and I cleaned my plate.
My husband loved the combination of flavors on his sandwich! He thought the greens were also flavorful, but just prefers his greens cooked a bit more.
Both our son and his girlfriend also loved their rice bowls. They commented on how flavorful and tender the meat was. We also enjoyed the hot sauce at the table and we put it on a lot of our food.
Guava’s Cuban Cafe was such a fun, unexpected find and I’d love to visit again if I’m ever in the area!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Mike Metz
Ordered Havana breakfast with eggs over easy. The egg whites(not just the yolk) were extremely runny. It ruined the dish.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Mary Rinkenberger
Very flavorful mojo con chicken, plantain chips, and vegetable rice bowl. The multi duty staff was friendly and helpful. We will be back and look forward to trying more on the menu.
Ride Care Transportation
This place has a nice atmosphere and the cook was very nice. I found the food to not have the authentic Cuban flavor. I highly recommend “ El Cubano” in St. Paul who tops their ropa vieja dish to a new level. My family goes there often because there cooks and owner know how to make the dishes well. Service was confusing, I walked and did not know if it was a sit down or order at the counter type of place. When arrived at counter the front desk worker didn’t say anything. Welcome or how can I help you. Nothing. Maybe it was just not a good day for them. But overall I give a rating of 3. Dishes need more flavor - sincerely .
If I could give this place 0 stars believe me I would. I am Cuban and visiting Minneapolis for the first time. Whenever I am in a new city, I look for the Cuban restaurants. I thought I’d give this place a try. What a mistake! Don’t believe the favorable reviews. The place is dark and dingy. It is self-serve and the food is awful. It is not real Cuban food. I don’t know what it is. I tried the ropa vieja and the stuffed potatoes and croquettes. All three were bland and unrecognizable. You have been warned. Stay away.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great place overall. I'll be keeping this place in my weekly rotation of best places.
Only complaints are:
1: Inconsistently cooked food. About 25% of the time, the food is under cooked.
2: It can get busy enough, that there isn't a place to sit after you order.
3: When you go during the slower times, we had to wait at the counter for up to 5 minutes before anyone notices us sis m standing there.
With this said, when everything goes correctly, it's one of the best places to eat in the state! The food is complex and draws you in with every bite. The staff is very pleasant to talk to and the restaurant it's self is warm and inviting. Plus, outdoor seating during the warmer times is a great way to have a nice dinner.
Dietary restrictions: They have oat milk for coffee
Kid-friendliness: Not aimed at kids. But, has some options for good eaters.
Wheelchair accessibility: Flat ground without stairs. No automatic doors. A little tight for navigating.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
What a delicious coffee with milk they prepare here, their dishes are delicious
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Nice spot with really tasty food. It’s more pricey than I thought it would be but worth it. Very casual. Grab a menu from the bin and place your order at the counter, then seat yourself.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Ceviche De Pargo
not handicapped friendly..had reservation..no reservations place...very limited menu...there at noon on a weekend..most people eating breakfast...
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
I'd never tried Cuban food prior to Guava, and I have now been 6 times in 3 months. EVERYTHING on the menu is amazing, tasty, and fast. It's a great place for lunch, and even better for dinner!
The restaurant has identity problems, it is not authentically Cuban, I think they gave it the name to Latinize it but it is neither from here nor there. The first time I went the food was ok but the service was terrible, it took a long time and the second time the bread with suckling pig had a Venezuelan dressing not Cuban and the chips they gave me were the ones they send you to throw away when you work in the kitchen, black , full of oil and old. Very disappointed, needless to say I'm not coming again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
I ordered the food with doordash. I had ordered from this place before and I have visited the place many times. The food wasn't bad, but what I received today's was a disgrace. Disgusting! I'm not sure if they ran out of plates, bows, or a better package system than a cardboard box. Unacceptable. To add that, I was missing multiple items that you are supposed to get and extra that I paid for. The food quality was very low, and the fact that it was compacted almost mixed like a tossed salad made everything mushy. Disgusting. Never again.
Food: 1
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Bowl
My only regret is not eating at Guava’s Cuban Cafe sooner. This place is fantastic - food, service, atmosphere…all of it is near perfect. The prices seem a bit modest in my experience (17rs in hospitality industry). Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vaca Frita Hash
I don’t like leaving bad reviews, but I tried calling the restaurant multiple times and it goes straight to a full voicemail. I am Cuban, so I was hoping for something at least halfway decent, but my expectations are lowered since we are in Minnesota after all.
I’m highly disappointed in the Cuban sandwich that is half the size of a normal one, that says it uses Cuban bread (but it isn’t), and costs twice as much as a sandwich should cost (it was a whopping $16 and very small and soggy). It wasn’t even pressed, cut, and tasted awful.
The tostones were inedible. They were thin and dry and you couldn’t even bite into them. I didn’t know there was a way to mess up tostones, but they’re as tough as cardboard. I’m disappointed I spent so much money on low quality food. Please improve the quality of your food if you’re going to charge people that much money.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
I’m editing the below review to include an updated experience I had with this restaurant. I wanted to give them another chance and I ordered take out. Well they got my order completely wrong and I got the wrong sandwich. I went up there and complained again. This time the customer service was excellent. The girl apologized and said next time I was up there to let her know and she would remake the food. The next day I went up there and had it remade. I was going yo come back and pick it up but I fell asleep. The person who ordered with me went to pick up her incorrect order and the lady told her that I never came back and got my sandwich. She gave it to my friend who put it in my fridge for me. Because of the excellent customer service and good food I’m changing the review to 4 stars. I really appreciate the lady going above and beyond when I got the wrong order.
If I could leave a 0 I would. On Father's day we went to eat here. I called to check on closing time and was informed they closed at 9 but the kitchen closed in 45 minutes. I placed an order for three people for the same meal. When we got there 15 minutes later. We arrived there was TWO meals made not the three ordered and despite it being 30 minutes before they actually closed I was told the grill was closed and they couldn't make a dessert either. They did absolutely nothing and didn't care even though it was their mistake. I had eaten here a few times before but this will be the last time ever I will set foot in this establishment. The service was the rudest I have experienced in the restaurant industry in about 15 years. I sat there and let my mom and fiance eat while I watched thanks to their screw-up and refusal to fix it. I hate giving g such a low review to a neighborhood restaurant but it was a terrible experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were looking for a quaint brunch place in the cities to celebrate our son and came across Guava’s Cuban Cafe.
We arrived to find plenty of street parking which was very nice! We had made a reservation for 11:30 on Sunday. When we arrived it took a bit to get someone to help us and when we said we had a reservation it still took about 10 minutes for someone to say we could sit wherever we wanted.
The cafe is cute and tastefully decorated. There were lots of people in and out while we were there and in general everything seemed efficient. We ended up at a table fairly close to the kitchen and it was slightly loud but we were still able to carry on conversation.
You grab menus to look at and then order at the counter. There was quite a variety of dishes to choose from and we were able to choose breakfast or lunch since we were there at 11:30.
We ordered a variety of dishes starting with Cafe Con Leche, a Tres Leches Latte and a Cortadito. We all LOVED our drinks. They were perfectly balanced and delicious.
We all ended up ordering lunch. Our dishes included Pan Con Fish with yuca fries, Pan Con Churrasco with greens, Ropa Viejo, and Lechon Asado. Each dish came out looking and smelling wonderful.
I loved the bread used for the sandwich— I could eat it every day! I also loved the cilantro aioli that came with my fries and I ended up adding it to my fish sandwich. The fish itself was a bit greasy but still tender and if it wasn’t for the menu I wouldn’t have known it was crusted in plantains, but it was still tasty and I cleaned my plate.
My husband loved the combination of flavors on his sandwich! He thought the greens were also flavorful, but just prefers his greens cooked a bit more.
Both our son and his girlfriend also loved their rice bowls. They commented on how flavorful and tender the meat was. We also enjoyed the hot sauce at the table and we put it on a lot of our food.
Guava’s Cuban Cafe was such a fun, unexpected find and I’d love to visit again if I’m ever in the area!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ordered Havana breakfast with eggs over easy. The egg whites(not just the yolk) were extremely runny. It ruined the dish.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Very flavorful mojo con chicken, plantain chips, and vegetable rice bowl. The multi duty staff was friendly and helpful. We will be back and look forward to trying more on the menu.
This place has a nice atmosphere and the cook was very nice. I found the food to not have the authentic Cuban flavor. I highly recommend “ El Cubano” in St. Paul who tops their ropa vieja dish to a new level. My family goes there often because there cooks and owner know how to make the dishes well. Service was confusing, I walked and did not know if it was a sit down or order at the counter type of place. When arrived at counter the front desk worker didn’t say anything. Welcome or how can I help you. Nothing. Maybe it was just not a good day for them. But overall I give a rating of 3. Dishes need more flavor - sincerely .
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
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